Before the Scots were "fed false promises" they had a huge majority of 51% backing indpendence.
Maybe the Catalans simply aren't such abject cowards as the Scots.
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So actually 30% back independence, which is even less than in Scotland.More than two million people out of an estimated 5.4 million eligible voters took part in the ballot.Leave a comment:
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It was an unofficial vote held in an area that given an official vote would vote to break away as the vast majority of the populace want to.
An official vote held in another region of Europe rejected independence recently by 55% to 45%, quite a clear result. Think you maybe aware of it the region is called Scotland.Leave a comment:
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Catalonia vote: 80% back independence - officials
Good for them. Suppose they weren't fed false promises at the 11th hour.
BBC News - Catalonia vote: 80% back independence - officials
Catalonia vote: 80% back independence - officials
10 November 2014 Last updated at 04:32 GMT
More than 40,000 volunteers helped to set up and run the informal exercise
An informal vote on independence for Catalonia has shown more than 80% in favour, officials say.
The provisional results followed a day of voting across the autonomous region in north-eastern Spain.
The non-binding vote went ahead after Spain's constitutional court ruled out a formal referendum.
Earlier, Catalan leader Artur Mas hailed the non-binding poll "a great success" that should pave the way for a formal referendum.
"We have earned the right to a referendum," he told cheering supporters.
"Once again Catalonia has shown that it wants to rule itself."
He added: "I ask the people in the world, I ask the media and I also ask the democratic governments in the world to help the Catalan people decide its political future."
Voters were asked two questions - whether they wanted Catalonia to be a state and whether they wanted that state to be independent.
Vice President Joana Ortega said that more than two million people had taken part in the "consultation of citizens" and that with almost all votes counted, 80.72% had answered yes to both questions.
Just over 10% voted yes for the first question and no for the second, he said, and about 4.5% voted no to both questions.
Patrick Jackson reports from a polling station in Catalonia
The ballot was held in the face of fierce opposition from the Spanish government.
Speaking beforehand, Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala dismissed the exercise as "fruitless and useless".
"The government considers this to be a day of political propaganda organised by pro-independence forces and devoid of any kind of democratic validity," he said in a statement.
Catalan activists wave a cardboard ballot box at a rally in Barcelona. 9 Nov 2014Catalan pro-independence activists waved a cardboard ballot box at a rally in Barcelona
Catalonia's regional president Artur Mas attends a news conference. 9 Nov 2014Catalonia's regional president Artur Mas says an official referendum is needed
Opinion polls suggest that as many as 80% of Catalans want an official referendum on the issue of Catalonia's status, with about 50% in favour of full independence.
Spanish unionist parties argue that because the ballot was organised by grassroots pro-independence groups it cannot legitimately reflect the wishes of the region.
More than 40,000 volunteers helped to set up and run the informal exercise.
The Catalan National Assembly pressure group collected signatures at polling stations on a petition to be sent to the UN and the European Commission asking for help to convince Spain to allow an official referendum.
Nationalism in Catalonia has been fuelled by economic and cultural grievances. The wealthy region of 7.5 million people contributes more to the Spanish economy than it gets back through central government funds.
The Libres e Iguales (Free and Equal) group, which opposes the vote, held protests in dozens of cities.
One protest in Barcelona witnessed minor scuffles but no arrests.
Other rallies in favour of the vote were also held.
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